Ty VotawExecutive Vice President of
Communications and
International Affairs,
PGA TOUR and
Executive Director of
the International Golf
Federation Olympic
Golf Committee

NEWS

World Golf Foundation, Industry Leaders Launch "Golf For Her" WebsiteContent to Highlight Beginner Programs, Women-Friendly Courses, Networking Events
(ORLANDO, Fla.) – World Golf Foundation – the non-profit organization that develops and supports initiatives that positively impact lives through the game of golf and its traditional values – today at the PGA Merchandise Show launched a new women’s website, www.GolfForHer.com, designed to increase women’s participation in the game.
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THE R&A PLANS NEW EQUIPMENT TESTING CENTRE AT KINGSBARNS6 October 2014, St Andrews, Scotland: The R&A has unveiled plans for a new equipment testing centre at Kingsbarns Golf Links near St Andrews.
A planning application has been prepared by architects Wellwood Leslie and lodged with Fife Council. The new 22,750 sq. ft facility is to be located to the north of the practice area at Kingsbarns.
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THE ROYAL AND ANCIENT GOLF CLUB OF ST ANDREWS VOTES OVERWHELMINGLY TO ADMIT WOMEN AS MEMBERSStatement from Peter Dawson, Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club. READ ARTICLE

THE INTERNATIONAL GOLF FEDERATION CONFIRMS QUALIFICATION SYSTEM FOR GOLF IN THE 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES14 July 2014, Hoylake, England: International Golf Federation officials confirmed today the qualification system that will be used for golf in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The announcement was made during a press conference at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, site of this week’s Open Championship, and follows ratification of the system by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).READ ARTICLE

GRACE PARK APPOINTED AS ATHLETE ROLE MODEL FOR GOLF AT THE YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES17 March 2014, Lausanne, Switzerland: The International Golf Federation announced today that former LPGA Tour player Grace Park has been appointed as Athlete Role Model for golf when the sport makes its debut at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.READ ARTICLE

THE R&A, MASTERS AND THE USGA ANNOUNCE FORMATION OF THE LATIN AMERICA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP - New event aimed at fostering the global development of the game. Inaugural championship will be staged in Buenos Aires in 2015.22 January 2014, Buenos Aires, Argentina: The R&A, The Masters Tournament and the United States Golf Association (USGA) announced today the formation of the Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC), a new amateur golf event aimed at stimulating growth and inspiring even greater interest in the game throughout South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
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World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum to present “Honoring the Legacy: A Tribute to African-Americans in Golf”St. Augustine, Fla. (Nov. 21, 2013) – The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum has begun creative development on “Honoring the Legacy: A Tribute to African-Americans in Golf” – a new, permanent exhibition that will recognize the triumphs and contributions of African-Americans in the game. With the generous support of The PGA of America, the PGA TOUR and the USGA, the exhibition is expected to open in late spring 2014.READ ARTICLE

THE R&A AND THE USGA ANNOUNCE CHANGES TO “DECISIONS ON THE RULES OF GOLF”19 November 2013, St Andrews, Scotland: As part of a continuing commitment to provide greater clarity to the Rules of Golf, The R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), golf’s governing bodies, today announced revisions to the 2012-2013 edition of “Decisions on the Rules of Golf.” The changes, part of a customary two-year Decisions review cycle, become effective on January 1, 2014.READ ARTICLE

China Golf Association and PGA TOUR Establish New China Professional Golf Tour That Will Debut in 2014SHANGHAI, CHINA (November 3, 2013) – A partnership between the China Golf Association, PGA TOUR and event promoter China Olympic Sports Industry (COSI) has established a new professional golf tour in China that will begin play in 2014 with 12 tournaments throughout the country.READ ARTICLE

World Golf Foundation (WGF) and Athletes World Foundation (AWF) Sign Strategic AllianceSt. Augustine, Florida 16 September 2013 - World Golf Foundation (WGF) and Athletes World Foundation (AWF) have established a strategic alliance to promote the importance of the AWF Dual Career Pathway. Through this alliance, college-bound students worldwide will begin receiving more accurate information on the process required to acquire scholarships to support their academic and golf development.
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BOYS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP SET TO DELIVER A £350,000 BOOST TO THE WIRRAL ECONOMY7 August 2013, St Andrews, Scotland: The 87th staging of The Boys Amateur Championship gets underway next week (13-18 August 2013) at Royal Liverpool, Hoylake and Wallasey golf clubs and is set to deliver a £350,000 boost to the local economy.READ ARTICLE

THE R&A LAUNCHES A NEW ONLINE RULES ACADEMY17 July 2013, Muirfield, Scotland: The R&A has launched a new free online course to help golfers and administrators improve their knowledge of the Rules of Golf.READ ARTICLE

PGA TOUR Policy Board Allows USGA’s Ban on Anchored Strokes - Rule 14-1b will go into effect in PGA TOUR competition beginning January 1, 2016PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL (July 1, 2013) - The PGA TOUR Policy Board today acknowledged that the USGA's ban on anchored strokes, known as Rule 14-1b, will apply to PGA TOUR competitions beginning on January 1, 2016. In making this acknowledgement, the Policy Board also passed a resolution strongly recommending, along with the PGA of America, that the USGA consider extending the time period in which amateurs would be permitted to utilize anchored strokes beyond January 1, 2016.
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KPMG: Golf in Scotland Now a £1 Billion Industry, New Study Finds(St Andrews, Scotland – June 4, 2013) Golf in Scotland is now a £1 billion industry, according to new research conducted by KPMG in association with Oxford Economics.
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THE R&A AND THE USGA ANNOUNCE FINAL APPROVAL OF RULE 14-1BGoverning Bodies Issue Report Explaining Their Decision Following Comment Process. New Rule to Take Effect on 1 January 2016, Allowing for Transitional Period. Belly-Length and Long Putters Remain as Conforming Clubs
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USA GOLF Federation Announces Board of Directors and Launches WebsiteST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – USA GOLFSM Federation, recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body that will officially name and manage the men’s and women’s U.S. Olympic golf teams, has announced the six members of its Board of Directors.READ ARTICLE

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP TO FEATURE IN TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR VIDEO GAMESt Andrews, Scotland, 26 March 2013: For the first time, golf fans will be able to play against some of the game’s greatest players in The Open Championship when the eagerly awaited new Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 video game is released today.READ ARTICLE

George O'Grady and Tim Finchem to receive KPMG's Lifetime Achievement AwardEach year, KPMG presents a special Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golf Business Forum, in recognition of outstanding achievement and leadership in both the game and business of golf.
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NEW FREE GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM LAUNCHED22 January 2013, St Andrews, Scotland: A free and easy to use new online system that helps golf courses manage themselves more sustainably and efficiently has been launched by The R&A.
CourseTracker was unveiled today (Jan 22) at the British and International Golf Greenkeepers’ Association (BIGGA) Turf Management Exhibition 2013 in Harrogate.
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THE R&A AND USGA ANNOUNCE PROPOSED RULES CHANGE TO PROHIBIT USE OF ANCHORED STROKES28 November 2012, St Andrews, Scotland: The R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), golf’s governing bodies, today announced proposed changes to the Rules of Golf that would prohibit anchoring the club in making a stroke.
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THE R&A SUPPORTS GOLF DEVELOPMENT IN MYANMARThe R&A is supporting golf in Myanmar by funding a special programme for coaching the national team and developing the country’s coaching infrastructure. READ ARTICLE

Canadian Tour Will Become PGA TOUR Canada in 2013After lending strategic and financial support to the Canadian Professional Golf Tour in 2012 and evaluating all aspects of the business, the PGA TOUR has agreed to assume operational control of what will become PGA TOUR Canada in 2013. The conversion will begin November 1.READ ARTICLE

GOLF 20/20 Endorses International Golf Federation 'Statement on Sustainability'GOLF 20/20 -- the collaboration of leading organizations representing all segments of the United States golf industry – has endorsed the International Golf Federation (IGF) “Statement on Sustainability” to employ environmental best practices.READ ARTICLE

World Golf Foundation’s Steve Mona Signs Up For APGSThe World Golf Foundation will be making its first appearance at the 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit and this will be marked by a special industry keynote address from Steve Mona, WGF’s chief executive officer.READ ARTICLE

Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf opens a new location at TianTai Golf and Hotsprings Resort in Qingdao, Shandong Province, ChinaQingdao Tiantai Hotsprings Golf Development Co., Ltd. announces the opening of the first-ever Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf in the Shandong Province.READ ARTICLE

Imported Bunker Sand for MuirfieldFor the first time in its 121-year history, the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers has sourced bunker sand for its Muirfield course from outside its own property.READ ARTICLE

Player’s Design for MontenegroLuštica Development AD, a joint venture between Swiss-based Orascom Development Holding and the government of Montenegro, has announced that Gary Player, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and the most prolific globetrotting golfer in the history of the sport, has been selected to design Luštica Bay Golf Course in Tivat, Montenegro.READ ARTICLE

GCI International launches websiteAsia Pacific Golf Group, in partnership with Golf Course Industry, announced the launch of the new Golf Course Industry International website. READ ARTICLE

England Golf Enjoys Surge in ParticipationThe number of people in England playing golf at least once a week is up by over 69,000 compared with six months ago.READ ARTICLE

The Principal Charity Classic renewed through 2015The Principal Financial Group® has renewed a three-year agreement, through 2015, to remain the title sponsor of The Principal Charity Classic presented by Wells Fargo, teeing up continued benefit to children’s charities in Central Iowa.READ ARTICLE

Hungary for GolfGolf is not one of the sports that you naturally associate with the Olympics and certainly not one that you will see in London later this year. However, the decision to include it in the Brazil Olympics in 2016 is good news for potential golfers in Hungary as it has prompted the country to award a level of state aid not previously available to the sport.READ ARTICLE

2013 Presidents Cup Captains AnnouncedFred Couples and Nick Price has been named captains of the U.S. and International Presidents Cup Teams. READ ARTICLE

Golf Leaders Gather for California Alliance for Golf General Assembly MeetingOntario, CA- The California Alliance for Golf (CAG) has scheduled its 2012 General Assembly Meeting for Thurs. May 31 at the Ayres Hotel & Suites-Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, CA. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss items of key interest to the California golf industry and the citizens it serves. READ ARTICLE

Melanie Hill Backing Toma Cancer Appeal's Golf DayGOLFERS are being urged to swing into action to help raise money for a Tyneside children’s cancer charity.
The Toma Fund is launching its first ever Celebrity Golf Day and new patron, Bread actress Melanie Hill, has joined charity founder Andrea Thompson to help launch the event.
Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2012/03/06/melanie-hill-backing-toma-cancer-appeal-s-golf-day-72703-30471232/#ixzz1oRfJnivFREAD ARTICLE

EIGCA Conference AnnouncedThe European Institute of Golf Course architects has announced the programme for their annual conference which will be held in Nice at the end of March. The Conference, entitled “Growing the Game”, will look at ways to encourage greater participation in golf. READ ARTICLE

Charity Golf Event Raises $120 MillionArusha — GOLFERS from Kenya and Tanzania have raised 120m/- to help improve the availability of clean and safe water for 500 households in Arusha.
The amount was obtained during a special charity golf event held at the Arusha Gymkhana club earlier this year and attracted over 30 golfers. The event, which was organized by Rotary club, saw Richard Gomes put up a sterling performance to emerge the overall winner in the men's category after grossing 39 points.
Neema Olomu posted 38 points to become overall winner in the ladies category while Zainab Laizer finished runner-up after amassing 35 points. In the group events, Adid Omari emerged first winner in group
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Women's Golf Open Generates $4.7 Million for ScotlandThe golf championship took place at Carnoustie last July 2011, and delivered a direct impact of £3.97m to the local Angus economy.
The Economic Impact Study found that more than 30% of spectators came from outside of Scotland with 3.5% coming from overseas. Visitors from Angus accounted for 27.8% with the remaining 41.7% visiting from elsewhere in Scotland. Almost three quarters of visitors said they would buy tickets for the 2013 championship.
The research was commissioned by EventScotland, event organisers the Ladies’ Golf Union and IMG, Angus Council and Scottish Enterprise. It was conducted by the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University.
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Date set for Europe Golf Show 2012he Golf Show, Europe’s largest golf trade show and education event, has announced new dates for 2012.
Once again the three-day event will be staged at the Harrogate International Centre, but at the earlier dates of October 9-11.
The shift in dates means the show will no longer collide with many of the UK’s school half term breaks as it has in previous years.
“Having listened to exhibitor and delegate feedback we decided the best thing to do was to bring the show forward in the calendar,” said John Davis, The Golf Show Event Manager.
“The Show will no longer conflict with the school holidays which will hopefully make things more convenient for those attending the show.”READ ARTICLE

The world’s first female Muslim golfer: U.S. college-educated Moroccan has sights set on the OlympicsThough she looks like any other young aspiring Olympic golfer, Maha Haddioui has a past much different than her female counterparts.
For one thing, she is the first Arab woman to compete in a professional golf tournament.
For another, she has witnessed first-hand the results of the Arab Spring, which has, in some ways, allowed the golfer to pursue what she loves.
In an interview with CNN, Ms Haddioui, 22, said because of her parents’ liberal take, she was allowed to golf at local courses in Morocco, and wasn’t coerced into wearing traditional dress.
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Cheshire Golf Pros Backing Drive to get More People into the SportGOLF clubs across Cheshire are teaming up to support the drive to encourage more people into the sport.
PGA professionals from 15 different clubs have come together under the umbrella of the Cheshire County Golf Partnership to form a development group aimed at driving up the number of people playing golf from the 16-plus age range.
They will be staging a series of free taster sessions and bargain-price group coaching programmes over the next few months. The Cheshire CGP is hoping to have introduced up to 500 people into the sport by the summer.
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RAF engineers sign up to Get into Golf schemeA GROUP of engineers from RAF Spadeadam at Brampton have signed up to the Cumbria County Golf Partnership’s Get into Golf programme.
The latest scheme targets businesses across the region with the aim of promoting a healthier lifestyle for employees and the 16 RAF workmates are enjoying a series of free lessons with PGA professional Stuart Rafferty at Eden Golf Club.
A RAF Spadeadam spokesman says: “It has been a great way to get together in a sociable way while the newcomers to the sport have really enjoyed themselves.
“Stuart has been a great teacher and everyone is improving while having plenty of good-natured banter.”
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Asian Tour Chief Welcomes PGA BoostSINGAPORE: Asian Tour chief Kyi Hla Han has welcomed moves from the US PGA Tour to step up its presence in the region, as this year's busy golf season gets under way.
The boss of Asia's main golf circuit, which returns this week in Yangon, said it would be "positive for all parties" if the PGA turns the limited-field CIMB Asia Pacific Classic in Kuala Lumpur into a ranking event.
The PGA has lagged behind the European Tour, which last year co-sanctioned eight Asian events, in its forays into the region, but is now considering an "Asian swing" with CIMB and Shanghai's HSBC Champions gaining full PGA status.
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St. Andrews Golfing Charity Honors Vietnam VeteransDOUBLE amputee Mike Reeder, who became the first-ever wheelchair golfer to complete a round over the world-famous Old Course at the Home of Golf, has been made an honorary Friend of the Keepers of the Green charity in St Andrews.READ ARTICLE

USGA Executive Director Mike Davis Named 2012 World Golf Foundation ChairMike Davis, Executive Director of the United States Golf Association (USGA) has been named Chairman of the World Golf Foundation’s Board of Directors for 2012. Davis succeeds The European Tour’s Chief Executive, George O’Grady, who served as the 2011 Board Chairman.READ ARTICLE

Mom and Coach Changing Junior Golf Around the WorldThe World Junior Golf Series (WJGS) found a permanent home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, with the playing of the 2011 Gate American Junior, a three-round competition that ended two days before Christmas.
America's "strongest junior event" came of age in its third rendition featuring 15 nations, 74 golfers and an organization with leaders determined to change the experience of junior golf.
It all started 10 years ago in Germany with a mother seeking to improve the junior golf experience of her son.
Then an American coach worked with her son, and together mom and the coach came up with a unique way to drive junior golf to higher goals both on and off the golf course.
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Scotland Numbers at All-Time HighThe number of juniors taking up golf across the Highlands is at an all-time high as a result of the national junior programme ClubGolf.
In 2011, SportScotland’s active school network worked with the region’s PE and teaching staff to introduce over 2300 primary five pupils to golf in a flourishing schools programme.
This year, a new year primary five year group will be initiated to golf for the first time through the scheme, joining some 220,000 children nationwide that have been introduced since 2003.
It is hoped this new surge in numbers will have a direct and long-term impact on the health of local clubs throughout the area.
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Canadians Push to Make Golf Tax DeductibleOTTAWA—A group of Canadian lawmakers is teeing off at what the country's golfers say is a decades-old unfair rule in the country's tax law.
Since 1971, Canadians have been barred from deducting greens fees for business-related golf outings. Canadian companies and businessmen can deduct hockey and other professional sports events, theater and concert tickets, and pricey meals at the country's finest restaurants, so long as they are business-related. But deducting a host of golf-related expenses—a staple of the tax code south of the border in the U.S.—is out of bounds.
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Golf tourism in Thailand to Get Into Full Swing SoonThe Tourism Authority of Thailand will kick off golf activities this month and next year as part of its effort to revitalise tourism after the flooding.
Thawatchai Arunyik, deputy TAT governor for domestic marketing, said the authority and seven golf courses in Bangkok and nearby provinces would host "Amazing Swing Paradise Thailand" this Friday.
The event is expected to help rebuild the golf business after the sector was hit hard by the inundation, which damaged 40 golf courses, mostly in Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi. About 10 courses focused on foreign golfers.
He said 18 operators had shut down their business since the floods as they need heavy rebuilding, in some cases requiring up to nine months for renovations.READ ARTICLE

Golf Tourism Can Boost City's RevenuesGURGAON: The four-day Haryana Haryana Golf Festival organized by Haryana Golf Association and supported by Haryana Corporation and Incredible India ended here on Sunday. "The majestic monument Taj Mahal built in 17th century by Shahjahan attracts people all over the world. Golf has the potential to increase the country's tourism and revenues. No doubt it's a sport of the rich but if we get the sport in India we'll have affluent people coming here and not just backpackers," aid Anil Dev, director general of Asian Golf Course Owners Association.READ ARTICLE

Fiji Golf Club to Host Annual Junior ProgramTHE Fiji Golf Club will hold its annual Junior Program next week in a bid to groom young players from an early age.
Teaching Golf Professional Veramo Rokoturaga said a tournament will be held right after the program to test what the children have learnt.
"The program will be held next week Tuesday and Wednesday and is open to all golfers below the age of 17," Rokoturaga said. "There will be different categories to cater for all the age groups that show up next week and the tournament will be held on Thursday," he said.
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Dealing with Tough Economic TimesFollowing the announcement that Whitemoss Golf Club in Perthsire is to revert to farm land, the Scottish Golf Union has this morning released a statement entitled ‘How Scottish Golf Clubs are Dealing with Tough Economic Times’.READ ARTICLE

World Golf Foundation Links - December 2011The health and wellness benefits of golf have been discussed more frequently in recent months and have increasingly been a part of golf's messaging to all interested in playing the game. Because of this increased interest, the World Golf Foundation has conducted a worldwide review of the topic.READ ARTICLE

Golf 9.12Golf 9/12 is a simultaneously played multi-course golf tournament aimed at uniting the U.S. through the opportunity to reflect on the shared spirit of unity felt on September 12, 2001. PGA TOUR stars Trevor Immelman, Davis Love III and Lucas Glover are all involved in this charity event.READ ARTICLE

Suzann Pettersen announced as next R&A Working For Golf Ambassador at The Open ChampionshipThe R&A has announced that top women’s golfer Suzann Pettersen has agreed to become the world governing body’s next Working For Golf Ambassador.READ ARTICLE

New R&A Golf Course website spearheading drive towards sustainabilityThe R&A has launched a new website, targeted at decision makers in golf facilities with the executive power to initiate and drive change, which focuses on the sustainable management and development of golf courses.READ ARTICLE

WGF Newsletter: An interview with IGF Executive Director Antony ScanlonThis month’s topic focuses on the 2016 Olympics. In order to best examine the preparation for this global event, we contacted International Golf Federation Executive Director Antony Scanlon.READ ARTICLE

Open Championship worth £100,000,000 to home of GolfThe R & A and EventScotland announced that the 150th Anniversary Open Championship staged in St. Andrews, last year, delivered a combined £100 million benefit to Scotland.READ ARTICLE

WGF Newsletter: Worldwide Junior Golf DevelopmentThis month’s topic focuses on junior golf development worldwide. Considering this is such a broad topic, this e-newsletter will focus on the development of junior golf, not official competitions.READ ARTICLE

IGF Names Peter Dawson as President, Ty Votaw as Vice PresidentThe Board of the International Golf Federation has named Peter Dawson as IGF President and Ty Votaw as IGF Vice President. Both appointments are for two-year terms commencing on 1 January 2011.READ ARTICLE

Environmental Development of the Chinese Golf IndustryChina recently has more than 500 golf courses and about 3 million golfers. China strives for high standard in the construction of golf courses, but lacks experience when it comes to the management, which leads to high operating costs and low profitability of golf industry.READ ARTICLE

Golf participation in Europe 2010Since the last decade of the 20th century the pace of golf course building and participation is much slower that worsen in the past five years. Last year there was in fact a 4% decrease in the number of golfers in Europe's largest golf market: UK & Ireland.READ ARTICLE

Success of Golf Will Foster Development of Other Sectors as WellPrime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said golf in Malaysia was now at the tipping point and would foster the development of business, facilities and tour packages that would promote both the country and the game.READ ARTICLE

Japanese Tour to Begin Drug TestingJapan's professional golf tour will begin testing players for drugs after Australian golfer Wayne Perske was arrested for suspected cocaine possession. Japan golf tour president Tadashi Koizumi says tests for illegal drugs such as marijuana and cocaine will begin at the Nov. 11-14 Taiheiyo Masters.READ ARTICLE

Golf Must Adapt to Increasing Population, Changing LandscapeAustralia's population numbered about 12.5 million when Australian Golf Digest was first published in November 1970, and the nation's best golf courses were almost exclusively those built during the "Golden Age" of the 1920s and 1930s. Much has changed in the ensuing 40 years, and there is no doubt as we look forward to 2050 that there are grave challenges facing both the golf industry and the nation at large.READ ARTICLE

Golf Open Worth More Than £72 Million to ScotlandGolf's oldest and most prestigious tournament, The Open Championship, was worth more than £72 million to Scotland last year, according to a comprehensive economic study.READ ARTICLE

Golf Driving on Despite Tough Economic Times, Says KPMGProfessional tournament golf is proving to be "resilient" despite the economic downturn, a report says. According to a golf industry survey from accountancy and business consultancy KPMG, during 2009 more than 6,000 players competed for total prize money of 476m euros ($647m; £410m).READ ARTICLE

Thailand is off and Running as Asia's Golf HubThailand has earned its stripes as Asia's Golf Hub. The Southeast Asian nation has worked hard to gain the right to be the golf capital of the region. In less than twenty years, Thailand has transformed itself into one of Asia's brightest stars on the golfing landscape. Today, the "land of a thousand smiles" has more than 280 golf courses, which is more than any other country in Southeast Asia.READ ARTICLE

2009-2010 China Golf Industry ReportChina recently has more than 500 golf courses and about 3 million golfers. China strives for high standard in the construction of golf courses, but lacks experience when it comes to the management, which leads to high operating costs and low profitability of golf industry. In recent years, China has launched a series of policies regarding land, golf equipment import & export and business tax in order to protect land resources and natural environment, which has restricted the development of golf READ ARTICLE

WGF Newsletter: Worldwide Golf Course Facility DevelopmentWhere will golf grow in this new decade? How will golf’s inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Games affect facility growth? In some parts of the world, facility development is expected to grow rapidly and in others, stagnate. The collection of articles and reports below provides an overview on facility development worldwide.READ ARTICLE

WGF Newsletter: The Economic Impact of Golf Around the WorldGolf’s economic impact around the world is substantial and growing in many regions outside the United States. From facility growth, to new player development programs, to the Olympics, golf’s impact on the global economy is expected to grow. This is predicted, despite the fact that when the next U.S. report is released the economic impact of golf is expected to be slightly lower than in 2005, when it was last measured.READ ARTICLE

NGF Releases Minority Golf Participation ResearchNGF has just released a new research report, Minority Golf Participation in the U.S, 2010 edition. The report focuses on the estimated number of African American, Asian and Hispanic golfers in the U.S.READ ARTICLE

Ryder Cup 2014 Could Raise £100m for Scots EconomyThe 2014 Ryder Cup could raise more than £100m for Scotland's economy, organisers have said. VisitScotland said the tournament was a chance to capitalise on what was sport's third biggest event in terms of TV and media coverage.READ ARTICLE

Golf Driving on Despite Tough Economic TimesProfessional tournament golf is proving to be "resilient" despite the economic downturn, a report says. According to a golf industry survey from accountancy and business consultancy KPMG, during 2009 more than 6,000 players competed for total prize money of 476m euros ($647m; £410m).READ ARTICLE

Ryder Cup Means Big Time Golf and Big Payday for WalesEvery two years the best golfers in the world meet to duke it out on the golf course. One team represents the United States, the other Europe. The venue for this edition of the Ryder Cup is Wales. The economic impact should mean about 36 million pounds are injected between October first and the third. This, according to IFM Sports Marketing Surveys.READ ARTICLE

Campaign Launching To Promote Golf's Contributions and BenefitsThe World Golf Foundation is leading a golf industry coalition that is launching a campaign to promote the many positive contributions and benefits of the game and golf industry to the American economy, charities and the environment. READ ARTICLE

Q&A: New IGF chief preps golf for 2016 OlympicsAntony Scanlon is the new executive director of the International Golf Federation, the sport’s governing body for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The IGF coordinated the successful bid last year to the International Olympic Committee for golf’s inclusion after its 112-year absence.READ ARTICLE

Guam Joins U.S. Handicap NetworkAdd the Pacific island of Guam to the list of growing international golf federations within the U.S. Golf Association’s Golf Handicap and Information Network. The Guam National Golf Federation is now part of the network that comprises 70 state, regional and national golf associations, covering 41 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Bermuda and the Dominican Republic.READ ARTICLE

Kaymer Victory Could be a Boon for German Golf IndustryGolf fans and associations are hoping the victory of 25-year-old Kaymer can finally allow the sport to shake off the rather dusty image it still has among many in Germany. According to the association, more than 600,000 Germans are registered in the country's 800 golf clubs. The sport has enjoyed growth rates of around 4 percent a year for some 15 years. Since 1980, the number of golfers in Germany has increased by a factor of 12.READ ARTICLE

Cuba Eases Property Laws, Could Open Door to GolfCuba has begun allowing foreign investors to lease government land for up to 99 years, a step toward a future that could be filled with golf courses ringed by luxury villas, beachfront timeshares and vacation homes for well-heeled tourists.READ ARTICLE

Golf Australia Partners with Coca-Cola AmatilGolf Australia announced it has entered into a significant partnership with Coca-Cola Amatil. Coca-Cola Amatil has made an important long term financial commitment to the Australian golf industry and will join Golf Australia as the organization's beverage partner. The initial three-year partnership will offer a range of benefits to the wider golf industry.READ ARTICLE

Golf Throws a Lifeline to Wisconsin’s Tourism EconomyThe game of golf generated an economic impact of $2.4 billion for the state of Wisconsin in 2008, according to a new study. The results of the study, Wisconsin Golf Economy Report, were released in conjunction with the PGA Championship held at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wis.READ ARTICLE

Thailand Launches Ambitious Campaign to Become “Asia’s Golf Hub”The Government of Thailand has embarked on an ambitious program to develop and position the royal kingdom as "Asia's Golf Hub". This is a collective policy decision by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport and its three agencies - namely Tourism Authority of Thailand, Sports Authority of Thailand and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.READ ARTICLE

Golf Courses with Fewer Holes Could be the Game's Next WaveWith time and money a premium these days, more golf courses are turning to less-than-18-hole layouts. Courses such as Scotland's Shiskine Golf and Tennis Club and Toronto's Derrydale Golf Club are thriving with 12 holes.READ ARTICLE

Former Cuban Olympian Ana Guevara is Hoping to Open the Doors to Golf in CubaA few hundreds of a second used to make or break Ana Guevara. Now, she's just hoping to break 90 during a few hours on the golf course. The former world champion and Olympic silver medalist in the 400 meter dash will lend her name to the Ana Guevara Cup, a pro-am golf tournament that will be held in Cuba from Oct. 13-17.READ ARTICLE

Yonex Tees Off in China Golf MarketWhile China appears poised to overtake Japan as the world’s second biggest economy, it might also beat Japan in the business of golf. As China’s many newly affluent citizens are expected to turn to the ultimate leisure activity, overseas sports equipment companies are setting up shop to get an early bite out of one of the few golf markets still in bloom.READ ARTICLE

IGF Announces Appointment of Antony B Scanlon as Executive DirectorThe International Golf Federation (IGF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Antony B Scanlon as its Executive Director. Scanlon, an Australian based in Lausanne, will take up his duties on November 2, 2010.READ ARTICLE

Golf Can Reduce Italy's 1.52 Trillion Euro DebtLeonardo Caltagirone, having studied Italy’s plan to slice 21.1 billion euros ($27.6 billion) in spending to bring its budget deficit below 3 percent of GDP by 2012, says golf is a path to fiscal salvation. Italy only has 92,000 golfers on its own turf, as compared with 387,000 in France, almost 2 million in the U.K. and more than 37 million in the U.S., according to a 2010 KPMG analysis of the European golf-property market.READ ARTICLE

European Tour Sees Great Growth PotentialThe head of the European Tour says there is great potential to expand into Eastern Europe, Asia and even South America as several countries step up their construction of world-class courses.READ ARTICLE

The American Golf CensusMore than 27 million Americans play nearly 500 million rounds each year. Golf’s economic impact is huge, as the industry provides hundreds of thousands of jobs and contributes billions of dollars annually to the nation’s economy and charities.READ ARTICLE

The R&A Signs New Five Year Deal With The BBC To Broadcast The Open Until 2016The Open will be broadcast on the BBC up to and including the 2016 Championship, following a new deal announced today by The R&A and BBC Sport. The new deal extends BBC Sport’s current contract as exclusive live television broadcaster, and also covers radio, online, interactive and iPlayer.READ ARTICLE

Rounds of Golf Played Increasing in AustraliaAustralian golfers are taking to the fairways more often according to figures released by the Australian Golf Industry Council last week. The Australian Golf Industry Council, of which the PGA of Australia is a key member, has released a tally of club member competition rounds played across Australia last year.READ ARTICLE

Mission Hills Builds for China's Golf BoomWhen you run the biggest golf resort in the world and you bring a weak game, you play. Early and often, night and day. That's what Ken Chu did when he became vice-chairman of Mission Hills Group . The company opened the first course on what is now a sprawling 12-course club in Shenzhen, China, in 1994, and is building a 10-course venue in Hainan, the southern Chinese island Beijing is backing as a tourism hub.READ ARTICLE

'Get Golf Ready' Program Covers All the BasesHow do you hit from a sand trap? When do you hit a provisional ball? Why do you get the shanks? Taking up golf certainly isn't for the faint of heart. The Manor's Cheryl Heckman, who learned the game as an adult, understands that. That's why she offers "Get Golf Ready," a national initiative started by the World Golf Foundation's Golf 20/20 arm in 2009.READ ARTICLE

Driving BUSINESSWhen Linda Rogers talks about golf, she means business. Earlier this year, on National Golf Day, the owner of Juday Creek Golf Course was talking to Congress people in Washington about the business of golf, part of a launch for the We Are Golf Consortium of several organizations (www.wearegolf.org).READ ARTICLE

South America Becoming Fertile Ground for GolfHenrique Lavie was more involved than usual in meetings during The PLAYERS Championship. He is commissioner of Tour de las Americas, and while that is among golf's smallest circuits, it is becoming more important than ever. The Olympics in Brazil are six years away, and golf has only one shot to make a good impression before another vote to determine whether the sport makes it beyond the 2020 games.READ ARTICLE

Golf in China: Targeting Three Million PlayersChina is one of the few places globally still building golf courses. As Dow Jones Investment Banker reports, potential sand traps and water hazards mean this may provide an opportunity for buyout firms and course-management companies that cut their teeth turning around busted courses in places such as the U.S. and Japan.READ ARTICLE

The R&A Announces Support of the Greg Norman FoundationThe R&A has announced its support of the Greg Norman Foundation. It becomes the fifth initiative headed by an Open Champion, on the fifth continent, to be financially assisted by The R&A. The Foundation, headed by the two-time Open Champion, endeavours to make professional golf tuition available and affordable for the children of Queensland.READ ARTICLE

Cuba Allows Foreign Investment in TourismCuba has announced plans to allow foreigners to develop golf courses, marinas and related land projects to boost the nation's tourism industry.READ ARTICLE

Golf Comes to the Fore in IndiaUnlike traditional golf markets where the sport is promoted mainly among the middle-aged and older population, golf in India is generating a huge following among young people and children from middle-class families.READ ARTICLE

Austrailian Golf Industry Speaks With One VoiceThe Austrailian Golf Industry Council (AGIC) is making steady progress, say chair Max Garske. Nine months are Australian golf industry delegates gave the AGIC a mandate to speak with one voice, the group's representative bodies have met on two occasions and are currently working on a number of key issues.READ ARTICLE

Golf Industry Tees Up New Washington Lobbying CampaignHas Washington fallen out of love with the game of golf? Last year, for example, Congress forbade golf courses from tapping into federal stimulus money, going so far as to lump the game in with casinos and (gasp!) massage parlors as businesses unworthy of assistance. The sport has also found itself at the center of some of Washington's tawdrier influence scandals in recent years, including those Jack Abramoff junkets to Scotland.READ ARTICLE

The Challenges of New Golf Development in AustraliaOver the past ten years nearly 50 golf courses have been developed and opened around Australia with approximately three quarters of these courses being part of a residential and/or resort development. As of January 2010, 27 of these courses were ranked in the country's top 100.READ ARTICLE

WE ARE GOLF Coalition Shows Members of Congress Why Golf is More Than Just a Game for AmericansWE ARE GOLF, a new coalition led by four of the game’s leading associations and supported by other small businesses, met with key members of Congress today – in conjunction with the 3rd annual National Golf Day – to promote the true face of golf, one that better reflects the economic, human, health and environmental benefits of the industry across the nation.READ ARTICLE

Golf In This KingdomThe late King Hassan II was a golf fanatic. Not only did the Moroccan monarch tee it up as often as royal duties allowed, but he also carried a single-digit handicap for much of his adult life- thanks in no small part to his engaging first Claude Harmon and later Billy Casper as his personal teaching pros.READ ARTICLE

Thailand Hopes to Become Asia's Golf HubThailand will underline its attempt to become Asia's golf hub by hosting four international events within 18 months starting with the inaugural PGA Conference of Asia later this month. Mike Sebastian, managing director of Asia Pacific Golf Development Conference and organiser of the events, said the move was a clear indication of the growing golf industry in Thailand.READ ARTICLE

Royal Canadian Golf Association Prepares to Remake ItselfThe Royal Canadian Golf Association will unveil its new identity as Golf Canada. Well, the RCGA will still be the RCGA when it comes to such business as working on rules with other organizations. Governors will wear the RCGA jacket when they attend USGA and R&A functions, but still, this marks the dawn of a new day.READ ARTICLE

OneAsia Appoints Sang Y. Chun as New ChairmanOneAsia - Asia Pacific's first consolidated professional tournament pathway for elite golfers - today announced the appointment of Mr. Sang Y. Chun as its new Chairman and Commissioner. Mr. Chun is an industry veteran with extensive experience in sports sponsorship and securing multi-million dollar television deals across the globe, involving many sports most valuable properties.READ ARTICLE

International Golf Facility Planned for MalaysiaMalaysia could soon be on the international golf circuit with plans to develop a PGA TOUR TPC facility in the country. PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem discussed the possibility of developing the TPC (Tournament Players Club) facility during a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here on Wednesday.READ ARTICLE

Unraveling the Chinese Golf MarketsThe evolution of the golf markets in China has been dramatic over the past several years. This evolution, coupled with the prospects of economic growth, the global economic recession and the overbuilding of the golf markets in North America, bring an allure to the prospects for golf in China. For those in the golf industry that were not the early adapters in China, many are now investigating the possibility of business growth in China.READ ARTICLE

IGF: China will Have Top Golfers, Games MedalistsGolf could evolve into a big business in China and give the country a chance to win Olympic medals, officials and scholars said in the capital of Hainan province yesterday. Dawson said the inclusion of golf at the 2016 Olympic Games will benefit China and golf tourism in Hainan, China's southern most province, as it attempts to build itself into a top international tour destination by 2020.READ ARTICLE

HP Joins Ryder Cup TeamRyder Cup Europe has announced a sponsorship deal with technology giant HP for this year's tournament. In its capacity as the official technology partner of the 2010 Ryder Cup, HP will provide a unified wired and wireless network to allow for internet services throughout the Ryder Cup complex in Wales' Celtic Manor Resort.READ ARTICLE

PGA TOUR Eager to Tap Japan MarketThe U.S. PGA TOUR is eager to launch a tournament in Japan in late 2011 as it explores new markets amid the global economic slowdown, a Japanese tour executive says.READ ARTICLE

Golf Searches For Its Feminine SideIf the vast majority of golfers were women, with men accommodated mostly as an afterthought—in other words, the inverse of the way things actually are—the primary set of tees at most courses would be around 4,900 yards. Female players could reach every green in regulation (two shots on a par-four). Green fees would be cheaper, courses would have more flowers and aesthetic amenities and on-site restaurants would serve healthier food.READ ARTICLE

Cuba Readies for U.S. Tourists With Golf Courses, Luxury HotelsCuba’s hotels could manage a sudden influx of one million American tourists if the U.S. Congress lifts its 47-year ban on travel to the Communist island, Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero said.READ ARTICLE

Ryder Cup-Themed School Curriculum Launched in NewportThe European Tour has joined forces with Newport City Council Local Education Authority to launch a new, bilingual Ryder Cup-themed curriculum to pupils from years two to eight in schools across the city.READ ARTICLE

Q&A with Asian Tour Chairman Kyi Hln Han by the Global Golf PostAsian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han has been one of the leaders in the development of professional golf in Asia since the early 1990s.READ ARTICLE

State of the Media, By the NumbersThe annual State of the Media report by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism was released this morning. The report looks back on how every part of the media fared in 2009,including newspapers, magazines, network news, cable television, and online sites.READ ARTICLE

Hail Colombia!As part of its changed image, Colombia is staking a place in the international golf world with over 50 challenging courses. The nation boasts courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player in exotic locations as diverse as the country itself.READ ARTICLE

Hockey's Olympic Boom Could Happen To GolfThe 2016 Summer Games will be in Brazil, a country of 200 million people with just a handful of golfers. Imagine the growth potential. Now multiply that worldwide. Imagine if the men's golf final in Rio de Janeiro was a shootout between Colombia's Camilo Villegas and Japan's Ryo Ishikawa and the women's involved America's Michelle Wie and China's Shanshan Feng. And when a compelling competition occurs, people watch and remember.READ ARTICLE

Golden Touch: Three The First Tee Students Experience a Legend up CloseNearly a quarter century ago, when I first started writing about golf for the Associated Press, Bob Green, who lugged around the label "AP Golf Writer" for 26 years, gave me these words of advice: "You can never write too much Jack Nicklaus." Which leads me to a lovely Thursday morning at The Bear's Club, three charming young The First Tee golfers and Nicklaus, the legend who can't do enough for the game.READ ARTICLE

Only One Of 20 Beijing Golf Courses Legal, Says OfficialOnly one of the some 20 golf courses in Beijing has been developed legally, a member of the law committee in China's parliament said. Amid concerns about land grabs of prime farming land, China's government put a moratorium on the development of new golf courses in 2004 and reinforced the ban last year.READ ARTICLE

Palm Beach County Golf Report Highlights the Sport's ContributionsHome to The PGA of America for 45 years and stretching along Florida's scenic Gold Coast, Palm Beach County is the quintessential golf destination. Golf is a significant industry contributing to the vitality of the county's economy. According to the Palm Beach County Golf Economy Report, the golf industry generated a total economic impact of $1.8 billion in 2007 supporting nearly 21,000 jobs with $600 million of wage income.READ ARTICLE

WE ARE GOLF Editorial by Golf DigestIf you care at all about how your sport is being treated by Washington these days, John Paul Newport’s weekend piece in the Wall Street Journal about the new “We Are Golf” lobbying initiative, announced at the PGA Merchandise Show is worth a read. Big program, big deal.READ ARTICLE

USGA & the PGA of America to Create Central Repository for African-American Golf HistoryIn recognition of the numerous contributions that African Americans have made to golf over more than a century, the United States Golf Association and The PGA of America have agreed to create a centralized repository for artifacts and documents related to the history of African Americans in golf, to be located at the USGA Museum in Far Hills, N.J.READ ARTICLE

Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Forms Partnership with TPC SawgrassThe Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Northeast District Office will partner with the PGA TOUR’s TPC Sawgrass to host an environmental outreach seminar for golf course managers and superintendents on Wednesday, February 24 at the club. The seminar is designed to assist golf courses in the region with environmental stewardship, using many of the environmental practices initiated at TPC Sawgrass as a model.READ ARTICLE

Golf's Four-Letter Words: Slow PlayIt's perhaps the bane of golf's existence: its dreadful pace of play. One of the reasons that newcomers leave the game is that golf simply takes too long.READ ARTICLE

Game OnAfter a year marked by sponsorship issues and turmoil at the top, the LPGA heads into its 60th season with 44-year-old Mike Whan representing a welcome change in style and, hopefully, substance.READ ARTICLE

PGA TOUR Pledges Support to The First Lady’s National Campaign to Battle Childhood ObesityThe PGA TOUR today announced its support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s national initiative to combat childhood obesity, which was announced today at the White House.READ ARTICLE

North Carolina's Hyler Elected To Serve Term As USGA PresidentThe U.S. Golf Association elects James B. Hyler Jr. of Raleigh, NC, to serve a one year term as president. Hyler is in his seventh year as a member of the USGA Executive Committee, a term that has included three years as a USGA vice president.READ ARTICLE

Tour Club Looks to Attract Businesses to Pro GolfThe PGA TOUR thinks the time is right for corporations to get back to business - and it sees the Tour Club as a new way for CEOs to partner with professional golf. The Tour Club, licensed by the PGA TOUR, offers corporate members the chance to send clients, employees and guests to PGA TOUR events, stay in luxury accommodations and even set pins with tour officials or watch TV broadcasts from the control truck.READ ARTICLE

USGA Makes the Most of a Trying YearIn what could only be described as a trying year financially for the golf industry, the USGA managed to make a profit of $7.8 million in 2009 on revenues of $144 million, according to the financial information published in its annual report released this week on the eve of the USGA annual meeting.READ ARTICLE

Q&A with Annika Sorenstam by the Global Golf PostIn a one-on-one interview with Global Golf Post Editor-In-Chief Brian Hewitt, Annika Sorenstam talks candidly and openly about anything and everything that comes up. The subjects range from motherhood and growing her business empire in a tough economy to new LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan and golf in the Olympics.READ ARTICLE

FedEx Teams Up With The First Tee to Launch a Sustainable Golf ProgramAs part of the FedEx commitment to environmental sustainability, the company is launching the FedExCup® Fore!Ever campaign with the PGA TOUR, Audubon International and one of golf’s premiere youth charitable organizations, The First Tee.READ ARTICLE

Get Golf Ready Enters Second Year After Exceeding Facility Participation Goals in its Inaugural YearAimed at bringing adults into the game in a fast, fun and affordable way, Get Golf Ready in 5 Days introduced the game to thousands of golfers in its inaugural year. Launched as Play Golf America’s featured program in 2009, more than 1,150 facilities are currently certified to host the program, surpassing the target goal of 700 host facilities.READ ARTICLE

Environmental Institute for Golf Aims at a Sustainable IndustryWith a focus on continual improvement, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Chief Executive Officer Mark J. Woodward, CGCS, announced that the association's philanthropic organization – The Environmental Institute for Golf – will create and lead a program that will provide the golf industry with a sustainable approach to golf facility management.READ ARTICLE

VIETNAM: On Course for GrowthAfter loosening control over the number of "golf course investment projects" around the country, Vietnam is set to experience a course construction boom over the next decade.READ ARTICLE

Asian Game Growing Despite World EconomyThe Asian Tour, the third-richest after the U.S. PGA TOUR and European Tour, has 28-30 events this year including WGF events and the four major championships. It plans to take that number to 35 with a total purse of $45 million by 2012.READ ARTICLE

Callaway Golf to Sponsor CBS Sports' Super Bowl XLIV TelecastCallaway Golf Company and CBS Sports have reached a unique agreement that establishes the golf equipment manufacturer as a presenting sponsor of the Super Bowl Today pregame show on Sunday, February 7th. The partnership marks the first ever Super Bowl pregame sponsorship struck by a stand-alone golf company.READ ARTICLE

WE ARE GOLF to be Introduced at PGA Merchandise ShowWE ARE GOLF, a coalition of four of the game's leading associations, was announced today as an initiative to change the face of golf and to represent the economic, human and environmental benefits of the industry at federal, state and local levels of government.READ ARTICLE

PGA Historical Center Unveils African-American Pioneers ExhibitIn celebration of Black History Month, the PGA Historical Center, in Port St. Lucie, Fla., has unveiled a tribute to influential African Americas who paved the path for diversity and equal treatment for everyone who plays the game.READ ARTICLE

RBC Joins the PGA of America as Official PatronThe PGA of America today announced that RBC has become a PGA of America Official Patron, the highest level of partnership and designation granted by the world's largest working sports organization.READ ARTICLE

Part II of Q&A with Peter Dawson by the Global Golf PostIn Part II of Global Golf Post's exclusive interview with R&A boss Peter Dawson, we learn the significant, but little known distinction between The R&A and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club. Dawson also takes us behind the scenes at Copenhagen where golf gained admission into the Olympics.READ ARTICLE

Michael Whan's Articles of FaithFor Michael Whan, the concept of marketing is a "nice esoteric" discussion. What's most important, said Whan, the new commissioner of the LPGA, is whether marketing efforts turn translates into results.READ ARTICLE

PGA TOUR Launches New Charity WebsiteMaking a positive impact on the communities where PGA TOUR tournaments are held and players live has become an even larger focus in the PGA TOUR’s charitable mission with the “Together, anything’s possible” campaign.READ ARTICLE

Q&A with Peter Dawson by the Global Golf PostPeter Dawson is arguably the most powerful man in golf outside of the United States. As secretary of the R&A, his domain is global and even his harshest critics credit him for gently nudging the body he governs into the 21st century.READ ARTICLE

PGA TOUR’s Final Charity Total for 2009 Hits $108 MillionThe PGA TOUR announced today that its combined charitable contributions from tournaments on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour came to $108 million for 2009.READ ARTICLE

PGA TOUR Player Jim Furyk Visits The First TeeAlthough courting supporters was not the aim of the golfing star's visit to The First Tee of St. Johns County, it was almost certainly the by-product. For more than an hour Monday afternoon, the 2003 U.S. Open champion and Ponte Vedra Beach resident demonstrated shots, talked about his career and his game, gave some individual instruction and signed autographs for about 75 county youngsters and their parents.READ ARTICLE

School Initiatives Help Kids Find GolfIt isn’t GOLF weather in many parts of the United States, but at a growing number of elementary schools, the climate is better than it has ever been for introducing the game to children who otherwise might not have had the opportunity.READ ARTICLE

Douglas Reappointed as Chairman of USGA Women's CommitteeBarbara Douglas has been appointed by the USGA Executive Committee to serve a second one-year term in 2010 as chairman of the United States Golf Association's Women's Committee, USGA officials have announced.READ ARTICLE

McDonald to be Named RCGA PresidentJack McDonald will become the 107th president of Royal Canadian Golf Association. The job consists of, among other things, chairing the 11-person RCGA committee, being an ambassador for the association and some “perfunctory” duties, like speaking and giving out trophies at the RBC Canadian Open, a PGA Tour event, and the CN Canadian Women’s Open, an LPGA event.READ ARTICLE

Callaway Golf Tees Up in IndiaCallaway Golf Co., the U.S. golf equipment manufacturer, is opening an Indian unit and has signed India's most famous golfer as a brand ambassador in an effort to tap the growing popularity of the sport in the world's second most populous country after China.READ ARTICLE

Joe Steranka Named 2010 Named World Golf Foundation ChairJoe Steranka, Chief Executive Officer of The PGA of America, has been named Chairman of the World Golf Foundation for 2010. Steranka succeeds R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson, who served as the Foundation’s 2009 Chairman.READ ARTICLE

Ryder Cup Profits Funding European Golf DevelopmentThe restructuring of the Ryder Cup in 2004 saw the creation of the Ryder Cup European Development Trust (RCEDT), a charity which ensures that a proportion of the profits from the Matches are distributed to grass-roots golf programmes throughout Europe. As a result, a total figure of some €2.5m was available after the matches at the K Club in 2006 and, since then, funding has now been granted to projects of varying size in seven countries.READ ARTICLE

USGA Grants In 2009 Benefit More Than 230,000 Young People, Individuals With DisabilitiesThe United States Golf Association announced that it awarded $1.87 million to support the development of 127 golf programs through its "For the Good of the Game" Grants Initiative during 2009.READ ARTICLE

American 'Get Golf Ready' garners EGCOA Grow the Game AwardThe National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) received the 2009 EGCOA Grow the Game Award for their involvement in the US golf industry's 'Get Golf Ready' initiative.READ ARTICLE

Final Ballot Announced For 17th Annual ING Industry HonorsHundreds of nominations from across the golf industry have been trimmed to three nominees in each category in the 17th Annual ING Industry Honors awards program. Called by some the "Academy Awards of the golf industry," the ING Industry Honors program is conducted by the non-profit International Network Of Golf to recognize outstanding achievement in the golf business.READ ARTICLE

GCSAA Research Examines Nutrient Use on Golf CoursesThe Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) has released the results of a nationwide survey of golf courses examining nutrient use and management on golf facilities.READ ARTICLE

2010 Economic Impact StudiesFive new states have been selected to conduct Economic Impact Studies in 2010. Those states are: Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Oregon and Wisconsin.READ ARTICLE

Shell Oil Company - Sole Founding Partner of World Golf Hall of
Fame and Founding Corporate Partner of The First Tee